France's budget minister, Eric Woerth, today hosted a press conference in Paris. He shed light on the French Government's intentions for the future of online gambling.
It seems that the efforts by the European Commission to bring France into line and allow the operators of online gambling establishments within the E.U. jurisdictions to compete with state monopolies, have found some success.

Sponsorship of sports teams by operators will be discussed and it is thought that control technology for all electronic data, financial transactions and levying of taxes will be initiated. The liberalization of the French market concerns pool betting for horse racing and fixed-odds bets on other sports such as football or tennis, online poker, and casino games are included.

The budget minister, Eric Woerth, shared the tax structure at today's announcement which will accompany a bill to open up online gambling. Woerth said he foresees a 2% tax on online poker, and a 7.5% tax on sports and horse racing. It is expected that licenses will be awarded to operators for a five year-period.

The proposed gaming bill will be presented to ministers by the end of March or early April. It is likely to be voted on or before the 2009 summer parliamentary recess. Woerth added that the opening up of the online gambling market should come into effect on Jan. 1, 2010.

The European Commission has had infringement proceedings underway against ten member nations with monopolistic or protectionist gambling policies. Besides France, Sweden and Greece, the European commission also has had cases against Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy and the Netherlands.  After Denmark, Finland and Hungary replied to the European Commission's written request for information, the European Commission resolved their cases.

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